Quarry Shutdowns Stall TN Construction; Industry Urges Govt Action

Construction work across Tamil Nadu has ground to a halt as the supply of gravel and sod soil critical for roadworks and landfilling has dried up due to the closure of several private quarries. The State Construction Department has flagged the crisis to Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, seeking urgent intervention.

Unlike silt, which farmers can extract free from water bodies after online registration, gravel used in construction is sourced via licensed private quarries. These operations are managed under a ticketing system by contractors who handle both excavation and supply.

Currently, two key players S. Ramachandran and Ratnam from Pudukkottai are overseeing gravel excavation and have appointed four contractors for supply across districts. However, sources allege political efforts to remove Ramachandran from his post, a move that Minister Duraimurugan has resisted, citing procedural challenges.

The result is a complete breakdown in gravel distribution. With older contractors leaving and legal constraints preventing new applicants from taking over, over 20 applications remain stuck in limbo in each district. This has created a massive supply bottleneck.

Construction firms are feeling the heat. Projects statewide are stalled as vital materials remain out of reach. The industry is calling for a system overhaul specifically, shifting gravel and sod soil distribution to an online platform like the one used for river sand. They argue this would increase transparency, improve access, and end reliance on favored contractors.

With delays mounting and no temporary relief in sight, industry voices warn that the state’s infrastructure growth may see an extended slowdown if the government fails to move early to end the standoff and reopen quarry operations.